Cigarette package



June 25, 11 I I A. WINBURN CIGARETTE FACKAGE v Filed Sept. 1, 1938 INVENTOR Patented June 25, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca 2,205,509 CIGARETTE memes Abraham Winburn, BrooklymN. Y.-

Application September 1, 1938, Serial No. 227,908

4 Claim.

'This invention relates generally to package constructions, and more particularly to an imroved method and means of packaging cigarettes.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a cigarette package of the character described which shall be so constructed and arranged that the package may grow progressively smaller as the cigarettes are used.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cigarette package of the character described, in which substantially all the cigarettes contained therein will retain their original freshness after the package has been opened, and until they are all used, irrespective of the length of time it takes a smoker to finish his package of cigarettes.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a cigarette package of the character described which shall be suiiiciently sturdy in construction to retain the cigarettes in their straight unbent shape, even after the package has been opened.

Other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following detailed description thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette package constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention and having portions thereof broken away to disclose the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective ,view thereof, illustrating the principle of my invention; and

Figs. 5 to 8 are diagrammatic views illustrating still further one of the underlying principles of my invention. 7

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I have shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a cigarette package Ill constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention and adapted to hold a desired In cigarette packages heretofore generally employed, the smoker was obliged to keep the entire original package of cigarettes in his pocket until the last cigarette had been consumed. In other words, after the package had been opened, and a certain number of the cigarettes withdrawn, there resulted a space within the package left vacant by the used cigarettes. This space caused the remaining cigarettes in the package to separate from each other, thereby losing the support of adjacently disposed cigarettes, which support was necessary in order to keep the cigarettes in straight unbent shape. Furthermore, when about half or more of the cigarettes had been smoked, the user was obliged to carry around with him a container, fifty per cent or more of the space of which was unused and unnecessary. Usually the smoker crushes that portion. of the package having the vacant space, which makes it an unsightly thing as it is withdrawn from the pocket for the purpose of oii'ering a friend a cigarette, and which also damages the cigarettes. Also, in the type of cigarette packages heretofore employed, when the seal was broken and one cigarette was removed, the remaining cigarettes were acted upon by the surrounding atmosphere, with the result that they immediately lost some of their freshness and original moisture. In cases where the smoker is a so-called light smoker, he may carry a package of cigarettes around with him for. days. With such smokers, it is obviously understandable that by the time'he got around to using the last six to ten cigarettes in the package they were so dry and stale as to'be objectionable. By means of the construction and arrangement of my cigarette package, now to be described, I have been able to overcome the above disadvantages, inherent in the types of cigarette packages heretofore employed.

The entire quantity of cigarettes to be contained in a package is divided into a plurality of groups of cigarettes. Each group may contain any desired number of cigarettes. For the sake of illustration, I have shown five groups having four cigarettes in each group. I take one group containing. the four cigarettes II and completely wrap or enclose them in such manner as to form an independent container A comprising surrounding side, top and bottom walls. The said cigarettes ll may be wrapped in any desirablev manner known to the art, to form a substantially moisture proof independent package, which must be broken open to-gain access to the cigarettes H. After this has been done I then take a second group, comprising the cigarettes l2, and, placing them adjacent the container A, envelop them as well as the container A, in a wrapping to form an independently wrapped larger container B, which in this instance comprises the already wrapped cigarettes II in the container A as well as the cigarettes II. It is noted that in the container B, the cigarettes ll may be disposed adjacently to and uniformly aligned with respect to the cigarettes I2. I then take a third group comprising the cigarettes l3 and, placing them adjacent the container B, completely envelop them as well as the container B in a wrapping to form an independent still larger container C which comprises the cigarettes H and I! in the independent container B, as well as the cigarettes l3. Then, a still larger, independent container D is formed in a manner similar to the making of the containers C and B and which, in this instance, comprises the cigarettes H, II and IS in said container C together with another group of cigarettes ll, after which still another and larger container E is formed comprising the cigarettes IS in the remaining group, together-with the cigarettes in the independently wrapped containers C, D, B and A. The ultimate container E thus formed may constitute the dimensions of the cigarette package as sold. The said container E may be wrapped in tin foil, if desired and enclosed in an artistic outside wrapping carrying suitable advertising matter in the manner well known to the art, and as shown in Fig. l of the drawing, and having the necessary Government seals properly attached and.

positioned.

It is thus seen from the above description that I have provided a cigarette package in which the multiple thickness of walls surrounding certain portions of the package will tend to maintain the cigarettes against crushing and bending. The individual wrappings employed for completely enclosing the independent containers A, B, D. C and E may be of material generallyemployed in wrapping cigarettes, such as foil, Cellophane or any other suitable material generally known to the cigarette wrapping art.

The package l0, constructed in accordance with my invention, properly sealed as in Fig. 1 and purchased by the user, is ready for use. When a cigarette is desired, the Government seal is first broken in the customary manner and the outside wrapping is ruptured or opened. The package of my invention may be designed to be opened at the top thereof and in the area housing the cigarettes l5. This frees four cigarettes for immediate use. After the four cigarettes 15 have been consumed the wrappings employed to form the container E may then be completely removed leaving the independently wrapped cigarette package or container D in which the cigarettes are sturdily wrapped and which is of smaller size than the container or package E, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. It is noted that while the cigarettes 15 are available for use, the other cigarettes ll, l3, l2 and H, remain completely enveloped in moisture proof wrappings to protect their freshness. The package D is designed so as to be opened in the top wall thereof in the area of the group of cigarettes ll. In a similar manner to that just described in connection with the cigarettes I5, after all the cigarettes ll in the group have been ex- I completely wrappedcontainer C of smaller size packed.

It is thus seen from the above that each time the cigarettes ina predetermined group have been exhausted the package becomes progressively smal er, and at the same time the remaining cigarettes are fresh and retain their shape.

In Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, I have shown diagrammatically the manner in which the cigarette package constructed in accordance with my invention becomes progressively smaller as used. Thus, in-Fig. 5 is shown the container D, after the wrappings of the container E have been removed. Fig. 6 shows the container C; Fig. 7, the container B; and Fig. 8, the single remaining container A.

To retain brand identification of the cigarette package after the outermost wrapping has been removed, the wrappings of the containers D, C, B and A may be imprinted with any desirable trade-mark or other advertising matter. A novel effect may also be obtained by having the printing on each adjacent wrapping layer substantially in register.

It is noted that any suitable indicla, markings or other well known means may be employed for indicating to the user where each successive individually wrapped container may be properly opened.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A consumer cigarette package designed to grow progressively smaller in size as the cigarettes are consumed, comprising a group of cigarettes completely enveloped in a wrapping to form an independent container, said independent container plus a second group of unwrapped c'igarettes being completely enveloped in a second wrapping to form a second container, said second container completely housing said first container and said unwrapped cigarettes.

2. A consumer cigarette package designed to grow progressively smaller as the cigarettes contained therein are consumed, comprising a plurality of groups of cigarettes, the cigarettes in one of said groups being completely enveloped in a wrapping to form a moisture proof container therefor, the cigarettes in another of said groups being disposed adjacent said container, said second group of cigarettes together with said first named container being completely enveloped in a second wrapping to form a second moisture proof container of larger size than said first container, and the cigarettes of a third of said groups of cigarettes disposed adjacent to said second container, being completely enveloped in a third wrapping to form a third moisture proof container larger in size than said second container.

3. In a consumer cigarette package construction designed to grow progressively smaller as the cigarettes are consumed and comprising a plurality of nested packages, an innermost package, an outermost package, an intermediate package completely enclosing said innermost package and completely enclosed within said outermost package, several cigarettes in said innermost package, several cigarettes between correspond: ing walls of said innermost package and said intermediate package and several cigarettes between corresponding walls of said intermediate package and said outermost package whereby when the said cigarettes disposed between the said walls of said intermediate and outermost packages are removed, the outermost package may be shed so that the intermediate package becomes the outermost package.

4. In a consumer package construction having a plurality of articles contained therein in which one or more of the articles are to be taken therefrom from time to time and which is designed to grow progressively smaller as the articles are taken therefrom, said consumer package including a-plurality of nested rectangular packages progressively increasing in size, five walls of each package being in face contact with corresponding walls of an adjacent package, said plurality of nested packages comprising an innermost package, an outermost package, an intermediate package completely enclosing said innermost package and completely enclosed within said outermost package, a number of said articles in said innermost package, a number of said articles between corresponding walls of said innermost package and said intermediate package and a number of said articles between corresponding walls of said intermediate package and said outermost package whereby when the said articles disposed between the walls of said intermediate and outermost packages are taken therefrom, the outermost package maybe shed so that the intermediate package becomes the outermost package.

ABRAHAM WINBURN. 

